World News - Pope's olive branch to divorcees. Benedict surprises critics with decision to help fast-track annulments of failed marriages

Pope Benedict signalled a dramatic break with the past yesterday when he acknowledged the plight of divorcees who are banned from taking communion after remarriage and appealed to a Vatican tribunal to issue 'rapid' rulings on annulment requests.It was the second time this week that the newly elected Pope has displayed strong liberal leanings, confounding his critics and the world's Catholics and showing another side to his previously stern image, which has been unfavourably compared with his predecessor, John Paul II. On Wed his long-awaited first encyclical a message to the 1.1 billion members of the Roman Catholic church was a warm meditation on the power of love and was greeted with astonishment and relief by senior Catholics.In Rome yesterday he directly addressed a central tenet of Catholic doctrine that has caused distress to many followers of the church, which states that remarried divorcees are regarded as being in a permanent state of sin and cannot receive communion... http://www.guardian.co.uk

The eldest daughter of former Chilean military ruler Augusto Pinochet has been detained, after arriving back in Chile to face tax evasion charges. Lucia Pinochet, 60, was served notice of the charges that also include passport fraud as she returned from a bid to seek political asylum in the US. She gave up after being detained in Washington and flew home via Argentina. She is one of five members of Gen Pinochet's family to be charged with tax evasion - but denies wrongdoing. Ms Pinochet was detained when she arrived back in Chile's capital, Santiago, on Saturday. A Chilean judge had issued an international warrant for her arrest and boarded her plane to inform her of the indictments. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4658168.stm

The word itself is cringe-inducing: inquisition.Put a historical and religious spin on it, and it yields a reign of terror that lasted for more than 600 years, a campaign by the Roman Catholic Church of enforced orthodoxy that let loose persecution, dread and death on untold thousands accused of heresy.Those lucky enough to have escaped being burned or boiled alive were nonetheless ruined through imprisonment and confiscation of property. Whole populations were driven from their homelands in the name of piety and purity.The Inquisition — not limited to Spain as many might believe — was horrible and cruel and shatteringly un-Christian. It earned the Catholic Church a black eye that is remembered to this day.It also makes for great television....http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1138191107984&call_pageid=970599119419

Bolivia's new left-wing government has put a coca grower in charge of the fight against drug trafficking. Felipe Caceres was appointed deputy minister for social defence by President Evo Morales - who was once a coca grower himself. Mr Caceres is a former mayor of a town in the coca-growing region of Chapare, and owns a small coca farm there. Coca is used to make cocaine, but also has widespread ceremonial and medical uses in Bolivia. Mr Caceres told the BBC he opposes US-backed efforts to eradicate crops across the country. He said coca was an integral part of Bolivia's indigenous culture and was the only means of survival for many people. Many people in rural areas use the leaves in tea, or chew them to ward off hunger and altitude sickness. Mr Caceres said he was convinced he would help lead a successful fight within President Morales' government to end drug-trafficking in Bolivia. "What we say is no to drugs, but yes to the coca leaf," he said, ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4658880.stm

Following their resounding election victory, the Islamic militants of Hamas met the question of whether they will change their stripes with a loud "no": no recognition of Israel, no negotiations, no renunciation of terror. But the world holds out hope that international pressure can make them more moderate. At stake is the future of Mideast peacemaking, billions of dollars in aid and the Palestinians' relationship with Israel, the United States and Europe. Hamas' victory — winning 74 of 132 parliament seats in Wednesday's election — has created a dizzying power shift in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, overturning certitudes and highlighting the failure by Palestinian leaders, Israel and the international community to ease growing desperation in the Palestinian territories. Weekend violence between Hamas and Palestinian policemen mostly allied with long-dominant Fatah, and angry demonstrations by disgruntled gunmen fearing the loss of jobs and income after the Hamas win, ...http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-01-28-hamas_x.htm?csp=34

Rescuers in southern Poland are battling cold weather to free some 100 people said to be still trapped in the rubble of a trade centre in Katowice. At least 32 people died when the roof collapsed on Saturday. At the time some 500 people were in the hall, which was housing a pigeon exhibition. The weight of snow on the roof was a possible cause, officials said. More than 100 people were injured in the accident, and there are fears that the death toll could rise further. Much of eastern and central Europe is in the grip of a severe cold snap with heavy snowfalls. A central section of the roof collapsed at 1730 local time (1630GMT). A second collapse happened more than an hour later, during rescue operations. Hundreds of rescuers have been working through the night to try to get to those still inside, as temperatures have dropped to -15C. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4659030.stm